Polychaeta (Annelida) of the Deep Southern Ocean

The Southern Ocean has been subject to extensive researchduring the last century. However, the majority of expeditionsfocussed on the Antarctic shelf, which is easier accessible thanthe deep sea. In the beginning of the 21st century the ANDEEPprojects were designed to conduct a first thorough survey on thefaunal communities in the Southern Ocean deep sea. During twocruises in 2002 and 2005 the seafloor in the Atlantic sector wassampled and the fauna was analysed in great detail. The authorMyriam Schüller presents a taxonomic overview of the polychaetefauna focussing on thirteen families including an identificationkey to the species found. Along with general community structureanalyses, species diversity and distribution patterns areaddressed. A correlation of these new cognitions to the formerunderstanding of polychaetes worldwide and the particularcharacteristics of the Southern Ocean leads to new ideas of theorigin, composition, and ecology of the Southern Ocean deep-seafauna. The book addresses students interested in fields of marinezoology and scientists with focus on the biodiversity and ecologyof polar waters and the deep sea.